People’s Campaign: Government must take action over PRC loophole

On June 18th, the People’s Campaign for Equality, Jobs and Justice issued a statement calling upon the government to take action regarding the loophole that gives PRC holders an unintended path to status through a “sleeping provision” in the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act of 1956.

We urge the following actions be taken:

1. The government must suspend all grants of status based upon the “sleeping provision” loophole immediately.

2. The government must make a commitment to fix the loophole legislatively.

3. The government must undertake a review process with a view to establishing a path to status for PRC-qualified holders.

In doing so, the original intent of the law would be preserved. It would also go a long way toward restoring the people’s confidence in the integrity of government. If the government wants to then have a review of the current pathway to citizenship, it should be undertaken on its own merit through the establishment of a formal review process. Such a review should be guided by a desire to develop pathways to citizenship that are fair and equitable and that strike a balance between the needs of a small country such as Bermuda and the rights of émigrés.

The People’s Campaign affirms this position and calls upon all Bermudians to support the No Back Door to Status campaign which will be launched on Friday, the 18th of July. We ask all supporters to wear red on Friday, July 18th as a show of solidarity. Additionally, we will be distributing No Back Door to Status stickers and are asking them to be worn and displayed as another show of unity.

Alternatively, supporters can download our No Back Door to Status image from http://bermudapeoplescampaign.com and our Facebook page to post on their social networking profiles.

June 2014 Public Evaluation

During the month of June, The People’s Campaign reviewed legislation, ministerial statements, statements from the Opposition, articles in the media, and public reports. We examined them with an aim to produce a summary of our elected officials’ activities. This process will be used by the People’s Campaign to keep the people of Bermuda aware of decisions that are being made and how they are aligned with the people’s expectations.

This months topics include:

• Call for MPs to Raise the Level of Debate

• Healthcare

• Premier Dunkley on The People’s Campaign

• Election and Parliamentary Reform

• Public Statements

Rev. Nicholas Tweed Jason Hayward Chris Furbert, JP

The People’s Campaign will seek to assess the Government and the Opposition through public evaluations. Public evaluation will allow the People’s Campaign to evaluate how effective those who sit in the House of Parliament are, in addressing the issues raised by the people. In the Month of June, we reviewed legislation, Ministerial statements, Opposition statements, articles in the media and public reports.

We examined them with an aim to produce a summary of our elected officials’ activities. This process will be used by the People’s Campaign to keep the people of Bermuda conscious to the decisions that are being made and how they are aligned with the people’s expectations.